Karbonn Smart Tab 1: New Tab on the Block, Priced at Rs. 6.990

Why would you want to pick up a tablet for yourself? To start with, they have larger screens and are far more versatile and convenient than your smartphones. Not as clunky as a laptop, and with a longer battery life, a tablet lets you access the internet, work on Office documents and presentations, play games, watch videos, make video calls, and do much more. Compact and lightweight, it fits easily into your purse or backpack and lasts almost a day on a single charge, depending on your usage patterns.

The tablet war is heating up with newer models appearing on the scene every few days. The latest company to jump on to the tablet bandwagon is Karbonn mobiles with the launch of the Karbonn Smart Tab 1. The Smart Tab 1 promises an enhanced video and gaming experience and is ideal for those who want entertainment on the move. But will it cast a spell on the consumers?

The look and feel:We love the overall design of the Smart Tab 1. The front screen of the tablet has a glossy black edge with a silver rim, giving it an expensive appearance. The back of the tablet has an all metallic finish which adds to its appeal. The Smart Tab 1 has a 7 inch 5-point multi-touch screen so that you can pinch to zoom when viewing text or images on it. The screen size is similar to most other tablets in the similar price range, and the external design while interesting, still does not set it apart from its competition. So why then, you ask, should we consider the Smart Tab 1? Read on to know more.

What does it have? The most striking and coolest feature of the Karbonn Smart Tab 1 is a 3D user interface and a gravity sensor to give you an ultimate gaming experience. It also supports full HD video playback, and comes with a mini HDMI port you can use to connect it to your TV directly for better viewing. The Smart Tab 1 is equipped with a powerful 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 512 MB RAM to let you multitask and run many applications at once without dragging down the performance. Did we mention that it is already on top of the game with the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich? Connect the Smart Tab 1 to internet through Wi-Fi or an external 3G USB dongle. However, we do miss the absence of Bluetooth on this tablet.

What can you do with it: The Karbonn Smart Tab 1 is undoubtedly one of the best tablets you could choose if you are an avid gamer or love to watch lots of videos. It surely is built for this! In addition, you can use it to browse the internet, view and edit Office documents and PDFs, and make video calls using the 2MP front camera. Its powerful 3700 mAh battery lets you browse the internet on your tablet continuously for 6-7 hours, or watch videos for up to 8 hours using your earphones, or even just listen to music continuously for up to 25 hours.

Competitor faceoff: Priced at Rs. 6,990, it offers direct competition to the Micromax Funbook, Intex iTab, and the slightly older HCL ME U1 in the sub-10k range. In terms of features, we have to say it’s almost identical to the Micromax Funbook, the only exception being the 3D G-sensor which gives it an upper hand as a gaming device. Priced slightly higher than the Funbook, the Smart Tab 1 comes with a much better camera in comparison to the Funbook’s VGA camera, as well a far more powerful battery that gives it a longer life on each charge.